Secret Santa Shopping

[awaiting_spring]

Who: Hatori, Himawari
What: Shopping, exchanging ideas
Where: Salkia mall
When: Sunday afternoon
Warnings: Mild awkwardness?

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[badlucklady]

The girl had been avoiding people once again. Her party was lovely with a few close friends, but her mind had been elsewhere nearly the whole time. Someone mentioned that they thought she had gone away, back home. Sometimes she had wished she could, other times she liked it here.

At the moment she wasn't so fond of this place. This Diva person, and a few other things were just making things even more complex. Threatening the few friends she had, and there was so little she could do about it. Even though she and Doumeki had made plans... she still couldn't help but worry over it all. In her head, this was very dangerous, and the worst was waiting for it all. If it would happen at all.

But she was visited by an elf, and... she really needed to know about this Akito person, in order to get a gift, thus her request to Hatori-san. It was a bit surprising when he mentioned meeting this afternoon, and even more so to learn he had Doumeki-kun as his partner. All in all she had forced herself to set aside some more morbid thoughts on things she couldn't change... and went out.

Dressed in skirt and matching top with leggings under to keep warm, she pulled a light long cardigan sweater and took up her messenger bag. With that over her shoulder she trotted off to the mall. It was only four minutes to noon, but as she came to the Cafe, she saw the man already seated there and with a drink as well. oh no, I'm late! She thought to herself as she came in, tugging her bag off her shoulder and sitting it down.

giving a small bow she smiled a small worried smile, her hair falling in her face a bit, though she had most of the long large curls tied back. "Good Afternoon, Hatori-san. I hope I didn't leave you waiting too long!"

[awaiting_spring]

Hatori was pulled out of his thoughts as he was looking through a few recent entries about secret Santas, when she spoke. "No I've only been here for a few minutes, I was out of the house a little earlier than expected. I hope that it was not an inconvenience for you to come all this way just to meet."

He took a sip of the coffee before gesturing to the seat across from him, "Please have a seat."

He could tell that there were other things on the girls mind, minor bodily expressions that gave it away and were tale tale signs. Over the years Hatori had become used to noticing them, many of them early symptoms foreshadowing future shells that people would become before he ultimately had to erase whatever memory it was that ate at them. It had been there in momiji's mother, and in Kana right after the incident. Hatori stared down at his coffee for a moment, for some reason Winter had come to be something entirely different for him. "Would you like something to drink while we talk?"

[badlucklady]

Oh, there were signs of her personal distress, and she had been hiding herself away more lately, but she smiled none the less. Then again, and she hoped he wasn't like that, but Hatori seemed like a few of her other friends... in the fact that he could more then likely see through her smiles. Smile though she did, as always.

With one deep relieved sigh and a smile she nodded, taking a seat, a hand going to her chest, as if relieved that she didn't make him wait long. "Oh I'm glad then. I was worried, when I saw you, that I wandered off again in thought and ended up being late."

Tucking her skirt and sweater under her properly she settled into the sea across from him, fidgeting with her LP in her hand for a moment before sitting it down in her lap. "A Chai tea would be really nice actually..." And with another huffed sigh and a more relaxed smile, she looked up at him. "And it's no inconvenience for me to come here to meet. I needed to get out again anyhow."

[awaiting_spring]

"No, you are actually a few minutes early still so it is fine." Hatori pulled off his own jacket remembering someone's comment about the way he dressed making them feel hot. He laid it on the seat next to him before ensuring that his shirt wasn't wrinkled. Making sure that her order was in he focused back on the girl sitting across from him. She had mentioned that she was friends with the person that he had received which happened to be a convenient coincidence considering that she had also wound up with Akito's name. "Was there anything else you were wanting to shop for while here?"

[badlucklady]

Still fiddling with her LP a bit in her lap, she just gave a nod and smile to the fact that she was a few minutes early. "Ah good... I do hate being late for things." As he made a order for her and took his own jacket off, she made sure she looked presentable and not too 'off in her own place' kind of appearance. She really had been out of it the last month or so.

"Well... I figure I might as well start shopping for a few people. I don't have to many gifts I need to get, but it's more now then normal. I thought perhaps I could at least start squealing away a few things. Also, you got Doumeki-kun, which means maybe I'll know what you get him and I wont duplicate it." She said, alsmot teasingly, but then leaned a bit on the table, looking interested. "But what's Akito like? I don't know him at all. I was so stumped when the elf gave me his name..."

[awaiting_spring]

Hatori took a moment to think about how to respond, he had to be careful as to what exactly he said and told the girl. For starters he would keep the truth of Akito's temper out of the discussion though with her recent post and the bruise that Hatori now had it might be a bit more challenging. After a moment he began, "Not many outside of the inner part of the Sohma family have actually met Akito. Over all we are a very close family and keep to ourselves for the most part. As for Akito, due to his health he spend much of his time in the main house; though since coming here it has been whichever house one of us are assigned to."

Taking a sip of his coffee Hatori was trying to think about what exactly the other might want to know or what would help with selecting gifts. "He appreciates most eastern art and decoration, as well as birds and is fond of the stories of the Chinese Zodiac about the banquet with God and the animals."

[badlucklady]

Hearing his story on Akito and how he doesn't see people, how he's sick and such, she frowned, nodding. She could understand some of that really. When she was younger she tended to stay inside more often then not, especially after the fire that took place to the house next door. That was her fault somehow... and well, she tried to stay in more to safe guard others. Staying inside and not meeting people... she could understand. Funny how their cases were completely different though.

As her tea came, she silently thanked the waiter and checked it, taking a small sip and hearing what the man was saying. "It must be really hard for him being here and away from home. He's really lucky to have you here with him."

And to the list of ideas he gave, she got some ideas for gifts. Maybe something will help cheer him up a little? Maybe. Oh but!-- "I remember that story. My father told it to me a few times... if it's the one I think that is. A Banquet with God so he wouldn't be alone, right? Hmmm I wonder if I could find something to do with that... So Akito is into Chinese Astrology, or just that story?"

[awaiting_spring]

"The story, it's something that many of the members of the Sohma family are fairly close to. In fact every year we have a similar banquet to celebrate the new year within the inner household." That was something that Hatori was not looking forward to without having the entire zodiac present. "But yes according to the legend, God was lonely so he decided to host a banquet to which he invited all the animals. In total twelve animals attended, as the rat tricked the cat into believing that the banquet was another night."

[badlucklady]

She kind of... leaned there, hearing him talk about the story. Something about it reminded her of her father. the story might be a bit different but the characters were always the same. "I always felt bad for the cat..." She said softly, musing over the silly little story with a true soft smile.

"A banquet though. That should be fun-- oh! It wouldn't be too long from now, would it? Will those of you who are here still try to do it?" Well, that was sad that a family tradition might not get done, but it was interesting that they put such a spin on the story. To hold a banquet like that. What an interesting way to ring in the new year.

[awaiting_spring]

"Really? It seems that there are more people who sympathize with the cat than there used to be. Most say that it was the cat's fault for being foolish enough to be tricked by the rat." Hatori wondered how Kyo would react to finding out that there was another person who felt bad for the cat. It had taken long enough to get used to the idea of one person let alone more.

"It is still a little ways off, I believe that the chinese new year falls in early February this next year." Traditionally it would have been a year that Hatsuharu and Kisa would have danced as it was going from the year of the ox to the tiger. "But there will likely still be a celebration for those of us who are here, I doubt that Akito would let it go by unmarked." After all it was God who hosted the banquet and required the animals to attend.

[badlucklady]

She blushed a bit, chuckling as she found it all really silly. "Yes, well... I also felt a bit bad for the rat too. After all... he was left out of the banquet to begin with. If the cat had gone, he would have been sitting outside and alone too. The story is full of negatives really. It would have been better if it was just... open to all the animals, but obviously we cant get folk lore that way, can we. Still... it's an interesting story."

It was a little ways off, but still... nearly around the corner. "Halloween wasn't that long ago either but it's been a month or so. Time just... flies here. The new year will be on you before you know it. Hopefully your Akito will have plenty of time to plan for something though." She took a sip of her tea and pondered for a moment. "I wonder if i could find a old book on the story. Do you think he'd enjoy that. I'm... really bad with gift ideas for others sometimes..."

[awaiting_spring]

Hatori took another sip of his coffee, "There are numerous versions of it that have been adapted over the years. But in all of them the cat is exiled and the rat is the first to be included having ridden on the oxes head." Hatori knew three different versions himself that had been told several times at the new year banquet. "That is true, I'm sure that preperations will be underway soon. The main question is where it will be hosted with how frequently the housing seems to change."

"I believe that I saw one in the bookstore when I first arrived, I didn't get a chance to look at it closely but there was one which contained several eastern myths and legends." Hatori knew that Akito wouldn't be likely to accept anything from the girl, but there was no reason for Hatori to ruin it for her and if nothing else he could add it to his own library. "Are you? It seems to me like you are doing fine."

[badlucklady]

As he explained that there were numerous versions, she nodded, agreeing “but in all of them there were thirteen animals and only twelve of them invited. In the end someone would have been left out no matter what happened. I think that’s the part I fine a bit sad.” But… then she chuckled, as if feeling childish about this kind of children’s myth talk. “But it’s just stories to explain things. As a kid… I used to get so worked up over the small details like that in stories.”

His mentioning on the housing changes and where to host it thought got her attention. “Oh! It might be a bit too big for what you’re looking for… but not too far from here is a meeting hall. The Halloween party was held there I believe. Maybe they have other smaller chambers for a family party? Ichijou’s friend held a huge fancy party there once as well. If it gets down to the point that you need a bigger place for it, that might be an idea?”

Taking a sip of her tea again she shook her head “For friends I know… I can figure out something pretty well… but strangers? I feel awkward. But… I’ll just have to do my best.” She smiled, looking up at him then gave a small nod. “And the ideas from you help a lot too…”

[awaiting_spring]

If she only knew, with the Sohma family there was in paticular that was still obsessed with it and how it wasn't fair. He wondered how she would react to Kyo if she were to ever meet the cat. But that was something that would have to be dealt with at a later time. Listening to her comment about the community center he recalled walking by it once or twice, "I will have to check into that, though in the past it has always been an intimate setting but that work well especially if more of them arrive before then."

"Thank you. Though speaking of friends, you said that you are close with Doumeki Shizuka."